Just the Beginning
Nov 02, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Jerome Tang is excited. And it isn't necessarily because Kansas State put a 102-68 thumping on Emporia State in an exhibition game. And it isn't necessarily because the local Chick-fil-A gave him a shoutout on their billboard. And it for sure isn't because he gets to rehash the ins and outs of a game with reporters late Wednesday night. No, Tang is excited because every day he awakens excited.
"I wake up every day and think, 'Golly, I get to be here,'" he says.
And here he is, wearing a Purple Powercat polo, black slacks, and a smile that stretches to Salina. Here he is in the postgame news conference, applauding the K-State students, who filled sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and a part of 23.
"Did you all see our student section tonight?" he asks. "The passion they have for our university — I'm just so blessed."
The jumbotron shows highlights of Tang's introductory news conference and highlights of the incredible past March and other clips show an introduction of new faces — the faces of new K-State players — coming from the shadows. In a dizzying sequence you get the past and the present — and now the Wildcats build toward the future, which officially becomes a reality when they meet USC in Monday's nationally-televised season opener in Las Vegas on TNT.
"I just feel like there's no losing in this one," Tang says. "You're going to win and learn, or you're going to lose and learn, but it's going to be a great experience for us to see where we're at — and where we want to get to."
Wednesday night is just the beginning. What does the beginning mean?
"Just that," Tang replies. "We have a long way to go. I'm blessed to be sitting here talking to you guys, coaching these guys at this great university and this opportunity we have, I mean, we can do some special things this year, but we have to keep getting better and keep moving forward."
The eyes of Cam Carter, Arthur Kaluma and Jerrell Colbert peer forward as they sit in the postgame news conference.
Carter has 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 23 minutes, which Tang indicates is ideal.
"I need him to be a bucket and be a scorer and don't think about facilitating," Tang says. "He's being really aggressive."
Kaluma will be a treat to watch this season. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Creighton transfer has 10 points and four rebounds, and fans just got a taste of his athleticism in his first outing in Manhattan.
"We were able to go out there and try some things and see how we worked in a real, actual game, and we grew today," he says. "The team grew, and we're going to get better from this."
Colbert, who redshirted last season, has 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting to go along with five boards in 13 minutes. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound sophomore still has no idea how good he can be, and that makes him a dangerous player this season.
"I'm hoping that Jerrell can give us 15-plus minutes a game this year where he competes at a level that allows us to win the game, and that he shows that he can fight through fatigue and not let it impact his play," Tang says. "Tonight was a small glimpse of what I think he's capable of doing."
Yes, Wednesday was about celebrating the efforts of these players, and so much more.
Tylor Perry, who erupted with a fury on the summer overseas tour, has eight points and five assists. The North Texas transfer point guard picked up two early fouls and played 19 minutes, but the Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection will be a major contributor.
True freshman guard Dai Dai Ames has 11 points, three rebounds and three assists, and the 2023 Jordan Brand Classic All-American from Chicago comes armed with one of the nastiest step-back jumpshots since Jacob Pullen.
Another true freshman, 6-foot-7, 240-pound Macaleab Rich, has eight points and nine rebounds.
"I'm excited," Kaluma says. "I'm excited to grow as a team with my guys. I feel like we're getting closer every single day. The sky's the limit for us."
Everyone is excited. And they're eying Monday.
"It's going to be a great environment," Carter says. "It's a great start for us to start on TNT. We're going to have a lot of eyes on us. We're prepared for it."
Adds Kaluma: "I'm excited. I feel like who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to play on that big stage as a basketball player? We're just getting prepared, and we'll be ready when the time comes."
There's more to come. And lots to do.
"There's a lot of stuff we have to get better at," Tang says. "This is going to be a process to get to where we want to get to."
There are aspirations and there are goals, and last March is in the review mirror and ahead are plenty of tomorrows.
If nothing else, there's one moment that Tang will remember from Wednesday and it arrived before the opening tip.
"Our staff came in and told me, 'Coach, the student section is packed,'" Tang says. "Those are my people."
And, yes, the people will come. They will come from all over to see this K-State team and their head coach who does the Wabash after wins. They will come to celebrate these players like the ones before them because the purple passion burns bright. And they will come because of the potential and to witness the growth of a squad that will fight nightly.
Tang says it best. K-State can do some special things this year. But K-State must continue to get better. And K-State must keep moving forward.
Wednesday was a step in that direction.
This is just the beginning.
Jerome Tang is excited. And it isn't necessarily because Kansas State put a 102-68 thumping on Emporia State in an exhibition game. And it isn't necessarily because the local Chick-fil-A gave him a shoutout on their billboard. And it for sure isn't because he gets to rehash the ins and outs of a game with reporters late Wednesday night. No, Tang is excited because every day he awakens excited.
"I wake up every day and think, 'Golly, I get to be here,'" he says.
And here he is, wearing a Purple Powercat polo, black slacks, and a smile that stretches to Salina. Here he is in the postgame news conference, applauding the K-State students, who filled sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and a part of 23.
"Did you all see our student section tonight?" he asks. "The passion they have for our university — I'm just so blessed."
The jumbotron shows highlights of Tang's introductory news conference and highlights of the incredible past March and other clips show an introduction of new faces — the faces of new K-State players — coming from the shadows. In a dizzying sequence you get the past and the present — and now the Wildcats build toward the future, which officially becomes a reality when they meet USC in Monday's nationally-televised season opener in Las Vegas on TNT.
"I just feel like there's no losing in this one," Tang says. "You're going to win and learn, or you're going to lose and learn, but it's going to be a great experience for us to see where we're at — and where we want to get to."
Wednesday night is just the beginning. What does the beginning mean?
"Just that," Tang replies. "We have a long way to go. I'm blessed to be sitting here talking to you guys, coaching these guys at this great university and this opportunity we have, I mean, we can do some special things this year, but we have to keep getting better and keep moving forward."
The eyes of Cam Carter, Arthur Kaluma and Jerrell Colbert peer forward as they sit in the postgame news conference.
Carter has 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting in 23 minutes, which Tang indicates is ideal.
"I need him to be a bucket and be a scorer and don't think about facilitating," Tang says. "He's being really aggressive."
Kaluma will be a treat to watch this season. The 6-foot-7, 225-pound Creighton transfer has 10 points and four rebounds, and fans just got a taste of his athleticism in his first outing in Manhattan.
"We were able to go out there and try some things and see how we worked in a real, actual game, and we grew today," he says. "The team grew, and we're going to get better from this."
Colbert, who redshirted last season, has 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting to go along with five boards in 13 minutes. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound sophomore still has no idea how good he can be, and that makes him a dangerous player this season.
"I'm hoping that Jerrell can give us 15-plus minutes a game this year where he competes at a level that allows us to win the game, and that he shows that he can fight through fatigue and not let it impact his play," Tang says. "Tonight was a small glimpse of what I think he's capable of doing."
Yes, Wednesday was about celebrating the efforts of these players, and so much more.
Tylor Perry, who erupted with a fury on the summer overseas tour, has eight points and five assists. The North Texas transfer point guard picked up two early fouls and played 19 minutes, but the Preseason All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection will be a major contributor.
True freshman guard Dai Dai Ames has 11 points, three rebounds and three assists, and the 2023 Jordan Brand Classic All-American from Chicago comes armed with one of the nastiest step-back jumpshots since Jacob Pullen.
Another true freshman, 6-foot-7, 240-pound Macaleab Rich, has eight points and nine rebounds.
"I'm excited," Kaluma says. "I'm excited to grow as a team with my guys. I feel like we're getting closer every single day. The sky's the limit for us."
Everyone is excited. And they're eying Monday.
"It's going to be a great environment," Carter says. "It's a great start for us to start on TNT. We're going to have a lot of eyes on us. We're prepared for it."
Adds Kaluma: "I'm excited. I feel like who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to play on that big stage as a basketball player? We're just getting prepared, and we'll be ready when the time comes."
There's more to come. And lots to do.
"There's a lot of stuff we have to get better at," Tang says. "This is going to be a process to get to where we want to get to."
There are aspirations and there are goals, and last March is in the review mirror and ahead are plenty of tomorrows.
If nothing else, there's one moment that Tang will remember from Wednesday and it arrived before the opening tip.
"Our staff came in and told me, 'Coach, the student section is packed,'" Tang says. "Those are my people."
And, yes, the people will come. They will come from all over to see this K-State team and their head coach who does the Wabash after wins. They will come to celebrate these players like the ones before them because the purple passion burns bright. And they will come because of the potential and to witness the growth of a squad that will fight nightly.
Tang says it best. K-State can do some special things this year. But K-State must continue to get better. And K-State must keep moving forward.
Wednesday was a step in that direction.
This is just the beginning.
Players Mentioned
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